From the Kent and Sussex Courier. 5 September 1873. Price 1d.

TONBRIDGE TILL ROBBERY.

Thomas Nugent, a peddler selling needles, was charged with stealing a shilling from a till, the property of John Vigar, at the "Castle Inn," on the 29th ult. Prosecutor said he was in his kitchen, and his niece went to the bar when the defendant came in. He had given change for half a sovereign about three minutes previously, and he knew what money was in the till. The prisoner came in, and gave to witness's niece a bundle of needles which he requested she would take to her aunt. In a second or so after the prisoner came in, he heard the till being opened and the silver rattled about. He immediately rushed out and saw the till opened, and that a shilling had been taken out. He then accused the prisoner of having stolen a shilling, and opening his hands, found a shilling in one and three pence-halfpenny in the other. He then sent for a police-constable. P. C. Irwen said he took the prisoner in custody. The prisoner, who elected to be tried by the Bench, made a long rambling defence, protesting his innocence, and he was sentenced to ten days' imprisonment with hard labour.

Kent & Sussex Courier, Friday 20 October 1961.

Now it's farewell to the hotel by the river...

Since 1759 a public house has stood here.

THE CASTLE HOTEL, in Tonbridge High Street, is to close next year. It will be demolished and the site redeveloped. A spokesman for Courage and Barclay, owners of the hotel, said he could not say what form the development would take.

News of the closure of the "Castle" comes a few months after the announcement that the "Dorset Arms," another Courage and Barclay house, is to be redeveloped as shop and business premises.

Two years ago Courage and Barclay successfully applied to Tonbridge Urban Council for outline permission to develop the site of the two public houses as shops and offices. In the case of the "Castle," permission was given subject to the ground floor development taking the form of a cafe.

The present licensee of the "Castle," Mr. Roland Shaw-Kew, who, with his wife, Betty, took over the hotel in April, 1960, has been given 12 months notice.

A brewery spokesman said that Mr. Shaw-Kew, according to his company's policy, would be offered another house as it became available. Mr. Shaw-key said he would prefer to stay in the district and wound be happy if the brewers could find suitable premises locally.

Beer House.

The present "Castle Hotel" was built after the reconstruction of the Great Bridge in 1888. The first public house built on the site in 1759. Known as the "Bells," it was erected by the Medway Navigation Company as a beer house for its employees working on the river. They were paid 12 shillings a week and allowed a free jug of beer every day.

In 1808 the name was changed to the "Castle." In 1850 Benjamin Herring, son of a famous horse painter, married then licensee, Mrs. Marshall, a widow, in a first floor room overlooking the river. He subsequently became the landlord himself and painted the sign for the "Bull," which was recently presented to the urban council when that pub, too, was scheduled for demolition.